The United States (U.S.) Department of Energy (DOE) proposes, through a cooperative agreement with Phycal, Inc. (Phycal), to partially fund implementing and evaluating new technology for the reuse of Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from industrial sources for green energy products. This project would use CO2 to grow algae for the production of algal oil and subsequent conversion to fuel. The project would generate reliable cost information and test data to access its viability for implementation at a future commercial scale. If approved, DOE would provide approximately 80 percent of the funding for the project.

DOE prepared this Environmental Assessment (EA) to assess the potential for impacts to the human and natural environment of its Proposed Action -- providing financial assistance to Phycal under a cooperative agreement. DOE’s objective is to support the development of innovative concepts for beneficial CO2 use, which include, but are not limited to, CO2 mineralization to carbonates directly through conversion of CO2 in flue gas; use of CO2 from power plants or industrial applications to grow algae or biomass.